Michael Pilo’s last hurrah
This is the last of a two-part series on Michael Pilo Gangga’s quest for a better future.
Temenggong Michael Pilo Gangga has spent nine decades on Earth, which has taken him over many uncharted waters. He was born before World War II and experienced the Japanese occupation, vividly recalling how a black British aeroplane touched down at the Batang Lupar river. Later, during the communist insurgency, he encountered many near-death experiences.
Despite all of his unpleasant experiences, Michael admitted to not being terrified of anything.
“I knew that if I was scared, I wouldn’t be able to bring peace to Kanowit.”
Michael had gone through the most difficult period of his career as Chairman of the Kanowit District Security Executive Committee during the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation era. He had to take control and be on the front lines of communist terrorist threats.
“During the communist era, everyone who transported items into Kanowit had to go through a border check. One time, one of the bags was halted because the police discovered all kinds of goods brought by a Tuai Rumah from one of the longhouses.”
“The police had asked him, ‘Sapa empu barang tok apai?’ (Whose items are these?) The longhouse head replied that the items belonged to his son,” Michael recalled in an exclusive interview with New Sarawak Tribune.
Michael revealed that the bag contained various necessities, like paracetamol, Minyak Cap Kapak (medicated oil), and other items.
“The police then asked if he had a letter saying that the items belonged to his son or the people in the longhouse. Instead of the letter, the tuai rumah had taken out a list written by the communist who had hired him to gather supplies for them,” said the former Simanggang assemblyman.
The attack at his bungalow
On July 7, 1971, Michael’s bungalow in Kanowit was attacked because of his strong influence in the community and against communist terrorists. As he was the District Officer and had the police and armies under his sleeves, the communist intended to kill the former Resident of Simanggang in order to instil fear among the Kanowit people.
The communist terrorists also wanted to send a strong message to Kuching and Kuala Lumpur about who was in power and winning the war. Michael was shaken by the attack, but he refused to back down.
The sentries guarding the bungalow managed to stave off the attack, saving Michael and his family. Following the attack and narrow escape, Michael and his family relocated to an ordinary government quarter near the army camp and police station, close to Kanowit town.
Words of persuasion
As a reputable man, his calibre had benefited him as he became a popular figure in Kanowit. He recalled that, although being a government official, he was still in the loop about Kanowit, including the movement of communist terrorists.
“I was friends with everyone. I was nice to individuals of different races and religions. Not only were the Dayaks my friends, but so were the Chinese and the Malays. From the lowest commoner to the tuai rumah of every longhouse, I was able to obtain information because of this advantage.”
Involved in a Special Branch Project in 1971, Michael, alongside Sarawak Special Chief, the late Dato Lawrence Lim had developed a strategy to lure the communist from the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP).
Using contacts gathered from every nook and cranny, Michael had managed to reach out to Imba, the wife of the communist terrorist leader whose army was lurking about Kanowit. Michael fondly refers to her as Ibo, expecting that she will act as a go-between for him and the communist terrorist.
“Through Ibo, I wrote a letter in Iban addressing the issues and concerns, convincing them to surrender and leave Kanowit,” said Michael.
The letters, when read, were described as heartwarming because the words curated by the then District Officer were impactful.
“Under the leadership of communist terrorist Phang Nam Cheong, they agreed to surrender and leave the jungles of Kanowit.”
The day of surrender
Despite the passage of time, Michael recalls waving goodbye to the six communist terrorists on October 21, 1971. They departed on a longboat from Ulu Ngemah, Kanowit, at noon.
“We wanted to meet them and make sure they left. So, we took a longboat through Ulu Ngemah and met them at Rantau Dilang, Batang Rajang, Kanowit. I waved at them to come together for a formal farewell at the jetty near the school at Rantau Dilang,” recalled the octogenarian.
Michael and Lim exchanged handshakes with six NKCP communists, including Phang Nam Cheong, Ibo herself from Ulu Ngemah, Lai Fuk Chung from Sibu, and Lim Ah Fook, who now lives in Serian. There were two more, but their names could not be remembered.
“I ordered them to hand over their weapons. And they did it right in front of me and Lim at the said jetty in Kanowit. Among the weapons in their possession were two sterlings with 120 rounds of 9-MM ammunition, one carbine with 40 rounds of ammunition, one rifle with 60 rounds of ammunition, and two shotguns with 50 rounds of sg 9 ammunition.”
After five decades
As he drinks his coffee after the lengthy interview, Michael pauses to take a breath — who knows what else flashed through his mind as he reminisces about the good old days. In a reference note he wrote back then, he expresses his desire to drink coffee with the communist terrorists who had surrendered to him.
“Enti sida agi ngelala,” he wrote. If they still remember him, he hopes to ‘lim kopi o’ with them.
Following the interview with New Sarawak Tribune, Michael requested that the writer “express my best wishes to the six former communists through this article. Wish them a happy new year on my behalf.”
Read part 1 below:
